Energy Ministry lifts restrictions on methane filling stations

Starting from 09:00 on December 30, methane filling stations across Uzbekistan have resumed round-the-clock service, according to the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan.

“Vehicle owners will be able to refuel at any convenient time of day, including at night, without queues,” the ministry said in a statement.

On December 11, the ministry reported that operations at gas filling stations would be temporarily restricted to prevent a drop in gas pressure in residential areas and at social facilities. The move followed a decline in imported gas volumes caused by a technical failure in the gas transmission system of Turkmenistan. In recent days, methane filling stations had been operating for only a few hours a day.

Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov said the accident had resulted in a gas shortfall of 6 million cubic meters. He also noted that up to 42 million cubic meters of gas per day were being withdrawn from underground gas storage facilities.

Uzbekistan imports gas from Russia and Turkmenistan. Over the first 11 months of 2025, the country purchased nearly $1.5 billion worth of imported gas, down 1.2 percent year on year. Imports surged sharply in November to $334.3 million – 1.8 times higher than in November of the previous year. Gas exports in November totaled $55.9 million, up 5.5 percent year on year.